Second language learning and language teaching

345 Pages·2017·2.14 MB·English

by  Cook, Vivian

‘Vivian Cook offers us a thorough review of SLA research and second language
teaching practice, often flavored with his distinctive wit. Guiding questions,
concise explanations, and helpful examples initiate the reader into the world
of language teaching. Although Cook does not endorse any one approach,
his multi-competent L2 user perspective is evident throughout the book. This
invaluable contribution to our field should be required reading for all language
teachers.’
Virginia M. Scott, Vanderbilt University, USA
‘Here’s a book that genuinely speaks to and enables improvement in the work
of practitioners by taking them through the useful theories, models and find-
ings of second language acquisition research—all tried and tested on many
cohorts of students and teachers from all over the world. The new edition will
appeal to a new generation of language teaching professionals for many years
to come.’
Li Wei, University College, London, UK
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Second Language Learning and
Language Teaching
Second Language Learning and Language Teaching provides an introduction to the
application of second language acquisition (SLA) research to language teach-
ing. Assuming no previous background in SLA or language teaching methods,
this text starts by introducing readers to the basic issues of SLA research. It
then examines how people learn particular aspects of the second language,
such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and the writing system, and the
strategies they adopt in their learning. Final chapters look at second language
learning in a broader context—the goals of language teaching and how teach-
ing methods relate to SLA research. This newly updated fifth edition builds on
the comprehensive scope of earlier editions while also addressing more recent
developments in the field, particularly multicultural approaches to language
teaching.
Vivian Cook is an emeritus Professor of Applied Linguistics at Newcastle
University. His main current interests are how people learn second languages
and how writing works in different languages, particularly in street signs. He is
a founder of the European Second Language Association and co-founder and
co-editor of the journal Writing System Research.
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Second Language Learning
and Language Teaching
Fifth Edition
Vivian Cook
Fifth edition published 2016
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa
business
© 2016 Taylor & Francis
The right of Vivian Cook to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published 2001 by Arnold.
Fourth edition published 2008 by Hodder and 2013 by Routledge.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Cook, Vivian, 1940– author.
Title: Second language learning and language teaching / Vivian Cook.
Description: Fifth Edition. | New York : Routledge, [2017] | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015045479 (print) | LCCN 2015047656 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780415713771 (hardback : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9780415713801 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781315883113
(Master) | ISBN 9781134683222 (Web PDF) |
ISBN 9781134683291 (ePub) | ISBN 9781134683369
(Mobipocket/Kindle)
Subjects: LCSH: Second language acquisition. | Language and
languages—Study and teaching.
Classification: LCC P118.2 .C67 2017 (print) | LCC P118.2 (ebook) |
DDC 418.0071—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015045479
ISBN: 978-0-415-71377-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-71380-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-88311-3 (ebk)
Typeset in Goudy
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Please visit http://www.viviancook.uk/SLLandLT/SLL&LT5thed.html for
a wide range of supplementary materials including questionnaires, a glossary
of keywords, samples of research techniques, and booklists, among others.
Contents
Acknowledgments viii
Teacher’s Foreword ix
1 Background to Second Language Acquisition
Research and Language Teaching 1
2 Learning and Teaching Different Types of Grammar 24
3 Learning and Teaching Vocabulary 58
4 Acquiring and Teaching Pronunciation 85
5 Acquiring and Teaching a New Writing System 111
6 Strategies for Communicating and Learning 132
7 Individual Differences in L2 Users and L2 Learners 151
8 The L2 User and the Native Speaker 175
9 The Goals of Language Teaching 208
10 General Models of L2 Learning 231
11 Second Language Learning and Language
Teaching Styles 258
Coursebooks Mentioned 305
References 308
Index 325
Acknowledgments
The motto of this book as before comes from Otto Jespersen (1904): ‘The
really important thing is less the destruction of bad old methods than a posi-
tive indication of the new ways to be followed if we are to have thoroughly
efficient teaching in modern languages’. The new edition has benefited from
the feedback of students, colleagues and readers. In particular I am grateful to
the MA students at Newcastle University and to the teachers in Japan and
Poland who provided the students’ comments incorporated in this edition.
Without the musical influence of Miles Davis, Marco Zurzolo and Shabaka
Hutchings, it would never have been finished.
Teacher’s Foreword
This book provides an introduction to the application of second language
acquisition (SLA) research to language teaching suitable for language teach-
ers, student teachers and students on courses in applied linguistics, TESOL,
methodology of modern language teaching and so on. It presupposes no previ-
ous background in linguistics or language teaching and provides explanations
and glossaries of important terms. Most sections of each chapter start with
focusing questions and keywords and end with summaries of the area and of its
application, as well as having discussion topics and further reading.
The scope of the book ranges from particular aspects of language and lan-
guage teaching to broader contexts of second language acquisition and general
ideas of language teaching. After the general background in Chapter 1, the
next four chapters look at how people learn particular aspects of the second
language: grammar in Chapter 2, vocabulary in Chapter 3, pronunciation in
Chapter 4, and the writing system in Chapter 5. The next two chapters treat
learners as individuals, dealing with learners’ strategies in Chapter 6 and indi-
vidual differences in Chapter 7. The remaining chapters adopt a wider per-
spective. Chapter 8 looks at the nature of the L2 user and the native speaker,
Chapter 9 at goals of language teaching, and Chapter 10 at models of second
language acquisition. The final one, Chapter 11, discusses different styles of
language teaching and looks for their foundations in SLA research.
The writing of the fifth edition has been largely guided by feedback from stu-
dents, teachers and colleagues in Newcastle University. The broad framework
and approach of the fourth edition have been maintained. The companion web-
site (available at http://www.viviancook.uk/SLLandLT/SLL&LT5thed.html)
offers a wide range of materials for users of this book including support materials,
notes, questionnaires, a glossary of keywords, samples of research techniques,
booklists, and lists of other related sites. There are also videos supporting sev-
eral aspects on the Youtube channel itsallinaword (https://www.youtube.com/
user/itsallinaword).